Matt Lauer Net Worth: Matt Lauer was once among the most well-known and highly compensated television personalities in the United States. During his 20-year tenure as co-host of NBC’s Today programme, he earned a peak annual salary of $25 million. He also hosted numerous other programmes, including Dateline NBC, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the Olympic Games’ opening ceremonies. He was highly esteemed and admired by countless viewers and coworkers.
In November of 2017, however, he was dismissed from NBC after a female colleague accused him of sexual misconduct during the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Additionally, the accusation alleged that the inappropriate conduct persisted in the workplace after the Olympics. Soon after, additional women came forward with allegations ranging from sexual harassment to rape against Lauer. Lauer denied any wrongdoing but confessed to having consensual sexual relationships with several coworkers.
The scandal cost Lauer not only his employment, but also his marriage, his reputation, and a substantial portion of his wealth. According to various sources, Lauer’s estimated net worth in 2022 is approximately $80 million. Before the scandal, his net worth was between $100 and $150 million. The factors listed below contributed to his financial decline.
Separation Settlement
Lauer has been married to former model Annette Roque since 1998. Together, they had three children: Jack, Romy, and Thijs. Roque applied for divorce in 2019 after Lauer’s scandal became public knowledge. According to People magazine, Lauer agreed to pay Roque a flat sum of $20 million as part of their settlement, which was finalised in 2020. He also gave up their New Zealand horse estate, which they had purchased for $9 million in 2017.
Real Estate Deficits
Lauer owned a number of properties in the United States and abroad, but after his disgrace he was forced to sell some of them at a loss. In 2018, he sold his Upper East Side, New York City, apartment for $7.35 million3, which was less than the $7.45 million he paid for it in 2004. In addition, he sold his Sag Harbour mansion in the Hamptons for $36 million4 in 2020, which was less than the $44 million he initially sought in 2019. He still possesses an additional Hamptons estate in North Haven, which he purchased in 2016 for $36.5 million, as well as a lakefront property in New Zealand, which he purchased in 2017 for $13 million.
Career Opportunities
Since his dismissal from NBC, Lauer has primarily avoided the public eye. He has not made an appearance on any television programmes or podcasts, nor has he published any books or articles. Occasionally, paparazzi or fans have observed him, but he has maintained a low profile. It is unclear whether any network or platform would be willing to hire him or give him a platform, given the severity of the allegations against him and the probable backlash he would face from viewers and advertisers, if he were to attempt a comeback.
Page Six reports that Lauer has been pitching a documentary about his fall from grace to various media entities, but has not yet found any takers. He has neither affirmed nor denied rumours that he is contemplating launching his own podcast or YouTube channel.
As more details about his alleged misconduct have surfaced over the years, Lauer’s prospects of reviving his career appear at best to be minimal. Ronan Farrow’s 2019 book Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators featured an interview with Brooke Nevils, the former NBC employee who accused Lauer of raping her during the Sochi Olympics. Nevils alleged that Lauer sexually assaulted her in his hotel room despite her repeated protestations and refusals. Lauer denied the allegation of rape, stating that he and Nevils had a “extramarital, but consensual” sexual encounter.
In 2020, a former NBC employee named Addie Zinone revealed that she had an affair with Lauer when she was 24 and he was 4011 years old. According to Zinone, Lauer aggressively pursued her and used his power and influence to manipulate her into having intercourse with him in his office and elsewhere. She stated that the experience left her feeling humiliated and traumatised, and that she suffered from depression and anxiety for years afterward.
Conclusion
Matt Lauer was once one of the most influential and accomplished figures in the television industry, but his own actions destroyed his career and reputation. Due to his sexual misconduct, he lost his job, his wife, his friends, and a significant portion of his wealth. He also lost the trust and admiration of millions of people who once looked up to him. His estimated net worth as of 2022 is approximately $80 million, but it is unlikely that he will be able to increase it or regain his former status in the near future.
